Truthful Reviews

I just say it how it is, if that upsets them too bad.. If credit due then say that as well. Just be truthful.

I'd give an honest review and if they started emailing me, I'd put that up too. As someone said, people look to these reviews to see whether their workmanship is going to be any good. These people aren't school children who are going to be damaged for life if they get a single bad report, they are adults who have to take responsibility for their actions, good or bad. If reviewers aren't honest, the whole review idea is pointless. At least by going public you are giving him the right of reply which he doesn't get when you go round telling all your friends of your experience!
The acid test has got to be whether you would recommend him to your family or friends. Maybe the site who do the reviews should have that as a question.

I most certainly did leave a bad review for some work done in my house. I found that lots of other people came forward afterwards with reports of bad workmanship too, they were pleased that someone was eventually brave enough to publicly shame this cowboy. I would have hated for him to have taken advantage of someone a bit more timid than me and felt it my duty to shame him

A few years ago my usual, good, dentist required and I went to another, newly started National Health one. At my first check-up he almost demanded that I leave a review and as I was going back for a filling, I did so. Then while he was doing the filling (obviously with my mouth wide open) he remarked that if he did certain work, he would be able to give me a beautiful smile. I do have a lot of fillings but had never thought they detracted too much from my smile. He carried on, saying that it should cost £340 but as I was such a lovely lady he would do it for £290!

Once I could speak he asked when I'd like him to start the work. I said we were about to go on holiday so he suggested I make an appt now for when we got back.

I didn't do that but asked around andfound another NH dentist who is excellent and I've been to him from then on. Incidentally the "pushy~" one didn't remain open for long.

Please don’t withdraw your review - We have also been in the situation of having to have work ripped out and redone because of seriously poor workmanship and I would hate for anyone else to have to go through what we have been through just because I didn’t feel able to warn them

Yes, I have left both positive and negative reviews. I am always honest and never vindictive.

I do take stock of a product or hotel and read reviews before I buy/book.

The greater the number of reviews, the better the chances of finding some accuracy, or so I thought before reading the experiences of some GNetter's. This thread has made me think that I should not be quite so trusting....

Trustpilot is one site I use which seems pukka but, who knows!

We are currently decorating. Why? Previous poor workmanship, so we feel we are better doing it ourselves!

We are rather paint-splattered but keeping fit and having fun! I think.

I have written one very negative review on TripAdvisor and it was published but with no response from the hotel - if only I had looked at TA before booking as I realised I wasn't the only one! I find TA's reviews very helpful personally.

I def would be honest if I was getting no satisfaction or not having the issues rectified. My eldest son did this and even posted photos of the disgusting and shoddy workmanship. He had taken legal advice 1st to ensure this was ok to do so.

I recently gave a very honest and respectful review of bad service I had received in a large shop (which had asked for feed-back). I then received an e-mail telling me they couldn't publish it because it was 'too specific'. I think what they meant was that it was too honest! I won't bother writing on-line reviews any more.

I learned my lesson years ago now on Trip Advisor. I left a less-than-glowing review (nothing more than stating our experience and opinion) of a b & b, and received all kinds of personal abuse which I had to get Trip Advisor to remove.
I like to leave reviews because, on the whole, and taken with a pinch of salt, they can be very useful but now, if I'm not happy, I either say nothing or qualify it with things like 'while I know many other people haven't had this problem, our experience was.......'

Always truthful, but hopefully not offensive. And I always try to find one thing good to say

Inishowen.
Write a formal letter of complaint to the company in question with photographs of the marks and how do they expect you to get them off in view they are on the outside of upstairs windows and what do they intend doing in putting this matter right. Advise they have (give them a time in which you expect their response) to respond
Go to the ombudsman website where they show how to write a formal complaint letter.

I don't leave reviews for small companies unless it positive. The reasons are so I don't get any of the above.

I have left positive and negative reviews for large companies on a product and service and not had any issues.

I left a polite but stinging review on a product I bought from a large company earlier this year which 8 returned. I wasn't sure if it would he printed or not. I was surprised that it was

I left a negative review for a mattress and the review site said that they would not publish it as the company had asked them not to. I was livid and said I wanted it published whereupon they said they'd publish it if I amended it. I refused and then the mattress company got in touch with my review edited and offering to allow it to be published if I would accept the edits. I refused and said that my full review was honest, my opinion and experience. They eventually published it but put it under the date I'd written it so way down out of sight. Another person replyed to it stating that her experience was the same as mine. When I looked later my review was gone.
I contacted Trading Standards sending coies of all the correspondence but heard nothing more.

I would, and I have done. I tend to be constructive, so will state what was poor, and add anything that was done well e.g. puctual, tidy.

I hope you made it plain that you were not happy with the standard of his work before the question of payment arose & certainly way before you wrote your bad review. You should not accept shoddy, unsatisfactory workmanship

We got new windows a few weeks ago. We were asked for feedback from the company. I said I was happy with the workmanship but disappointed that the windows were not cleaned. They were installed with marks from labels and lots of fingerprints. As these were on the outside, upstairs, I don't know how they expected us to clean them. They didn't respond to my complaint!

Had a similar experience... hotel "bargain offer" from Groupon was so dreadful that we left after 1st night... (basically the whole hotel was being refurbish inside and out and every where was a building site...AND they hadn't mentioned it during the phone call the day before we arrived) complained to Groupon and the Hotel who agreed with our complaint but who did nothing for 2 - 3 weeks ... so after two / three phone calls i offered to publish an honest account on trip adviser... they immediately refunded all my money complaining that i was black mailing them...
but didn't care ... i'd got my money back...

Meandashy
I would never advise any one to make threats.
You are not anothers keeper and the contractor could sue for defamation. A responsible contractor will put right any defects in his work .Citizens Advice give information what you should do in the event of finding shoddy work after payment and see my previous advice which protects the public against faulty goods & services .

Moocow. I would never, from past experience, leave a review. Did you pay for this work without question ? then this should not need a pat on the back..It appears your contractor was not happy and wanted this pat on the back. A responsible contractor would refrain from throwing his toys out of the pram and question what is it that is not/ or was not to your satisfaction that compelled you to rate his work as fair. Of course their can, later, be problems concerning any services which is when the Supply of Goods and Services Act should be considered.

I would say I will withdraw the review if you ( meaning the snoddy workman) are going to pay for the work you had done to correct his bad workmanship! If not, back off or you'll report him for harassment!
If people don't complain and leave honest reviews then other people will be ripped off by this person too.

I would not give a review at all. After all an employer is not allowed to give a bad reference for someone who is leaving their employment. Why would you want to give one at all as this will reflect on his future work. I think reviews need to be taken with a pinch of salt. The best way to find a good reliable workman is usually by word of mouth.

How disgusting for you nudejude it's a shame when it's the team doing the work we have had similar things happen I have left reviews try to be fair but honest .

I would not give a bad review, if i can't say anything good I wouldn't say anything on a review site. However if I had a problem with quality I would go straight back to the tradesman to correct their work... have always got a good result this way.